Switches



C. TORRES April 24, 1956 SWITCHES Filed Oct. 20, 1951 INVENTOR. Cz. EMEA/TE 76%?55 H TTOR/VE) United States Patent SWITCHES Clemente Torres, Little Ferry, N. J. Application October 20, 1951, Serial No. 252,271 4 Claims. (Cl. 200-67) My invention relates to switches and more particularly to the snap precision type.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a snap switch constructed in a manner to eifect quick breaking and making of the contact points and in such a manner that the load imposed on the points, while in engagement, is not decreased until the actual breaking, thereby preventing undue arcing and so-called vibratory contact during actuation of the switch.

Another object of my invention is to provide a switch of the foregoing described character wherein the load imposed upon the contact points during engagement tends to increase immediately preceding the actual point breakingphase.

An important object of my invention is to provide a switch of the foregoing described character which is simple in construction, durable in use, eificient in operation, economical in manufacture and lends itself to a multiplicity of uses where quick point making and breaking of contact is required.

With the above and other objects in view, as will hereinafter appear, the invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawings from which the several features of the invention and the advantages attained thereby will be readily understood by those skilled in the art. I 2

Referring to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a switch constructed in accordance with my invention and with the top or cover removed.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but illustrating certain components disposed in a different relationship.

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure land having the cover attached.

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 1, the cover being attached.

In practicing my invention, as illustrated in the draw ings, I provide a housing or casing 5 constructed of insulating material and which casing is normally closed by a cover 6 of like material. The cover may be secured to the casing 5 by suitable screws or the like extending into threaded openings 7 formed in the corners of the casing. A pair of spaced rigid bus bars or arms 8 and 9 are secured in fixed relation within the casing and have their outer ends projecting rearwardly from the rear wall of the casing for attachment to wires of electrical circuits, respectively. The inner ends of the arms 8 and 9 are provided with spaced contact members or points 10 and 11, respectively, having their contact faces disposed in confronting and spaced relation.

Disposed between the arms 8 and 9 and insulated therefrom is a resilient contact finger 12, the latter being secured to the casing 5 and provided on each side of its outer end section 13 with a reinforcing plate 14 to lend rigidity to the section 13 and for the attachment of another wire of one of the electrical circuits. The inner end section 15 of the finger 12 which, by reason of its resiliency is adapted to be actuated laterally between the inner ends spectively, whereby to close and open the circuits as required.

The section 15 extends an appreciable distance away from the contact points 16 and 17 and has its outer end retained Within a kerf 18 formed in the peripheral face of a roller 19 pivotly mounted on a pivot 20 journaled in a yoke 21 fixed on one end section 22 of a somewhat U- shaped leaf spring 23. The body or intermediate portion 24 of the spring 23 extends in angular relation with respect to the section 22 while its opposite end section 25 is anchored within the casing. The outer side face of the intermediate portion 24 is engaged by the inner end of a push button 26 which is slidably mounted within an opening 27 formed in the adjacent side wall 28 of the casing 5 and which push button 26 has its outer end projecting outwardly of the casing to facilitate its operation.

The pivot 20 and the section 13 coact to define therebetween a dead-point or -center through which the section 15 swings or moves upon actuation of the push button 26. Specifically and with reference to Figure 1, when the push button 26 is moved inwardly against the portion 24 of the spring 23, the yoke 21 moves upwardly and sinistrally outwardly due to the engagement of the section 15 with the roller 19. As this movement continues, the roller 19 rotates clockwise and moves the outer end of the section 15 from one side of the dead-point to the other, whereupon the spring 23 functions to impart a snap-action to the section 15 and thus accelerate downward movement of the section 15 with resultant quick breaking of the points 10 and 16 and quick engagement of the points 11 and 17 to assume the positions illustrated in Figure 2. The points 11 and 17 are thus maintained in engagement until release of the push button 26, whereupon, the spring 23 functions to effect a reverse operation of the parts or components to their initial positions as shown in Figure 1. In order to minimize the possibility of any displacement of the outer end of the section 15 from within the kerf 18 of the roller 19 during its oscillatory movement, I construct the roller 19 of a plurality of discs each freely mounted on the pivot 20 and having a peripheral groove coacting with the others to define the kerf 18 when disposed in registry. In actual reduction to practice, it is found that a roller thus constructed is effective for pre cluding the aforementioned displacement.

While I have disclosed a roller 19 as being mounted within the yoke 21 for engagement with and operation of the finger 12, it will be apparent that other means may be employed, for instance, an arm or crank rotatably mounted within the yoke and suitably connected to the outer end of the section 15.

During operation, pressure increases, rather than de creases, upon the engaged contact points until the section 15 passes the dead-point thereby precluding arcing and chattering of the points and vibration of the section 15. Therefore, it will be apparent that a switch constructed in accordance with my invention provides for a quick making and breaking of the contact points and at the same time precludes arcing, vibration and chatter during the operational phases.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully explain the invention that others may, be applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service. Moreover, it is not indispensable that all the features of the invention be used conjointly bev utilized for. any, purpose to which iti=is-adaptabie It is therefore tobe understood that the invention isnot limited-to the specific construction as illustrated anddescribed, as-the same-is only illustrative/of theprinciples involvedwhich are capable of extended application invarious forms, and'the invention comprehends allconstruction within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a-switch.construction, a mounting provided withv astationary-contact point, ablade provided withla porition fixedtozsaid mounting andhaving: amovablecsectionequipped-with a contactmember movable outof and into engagement with said point: for breaking and making anelectrical circuit, arblade actuating assembly including pivoted means engaging. said section= andprovided with a pivot with the latter coacting with said portion to define a dead-point through which ,SflidlSflItIOIl moves, a spring:

carried by said mounting and connected to said assembly for moving saidsection'to positions at the-sides of said dead-point, said spring'being efi'ective to maintain:said

means in one of said positions to dispose said section on one side of said dead-point with.- said contact member in engagement with said contact point, operating-means for moving said spring to shiftsaidassembly ina manner to etfect rotation of said pivoted means and thus move said section to another of said positions at'the other side'of said, dead-point and-saidcontact member outof engagement with said contact point, said spring functioning to increase the pressure on said contact point by said contact member until said section passesthrough said deadpoint and to impart a snap action to said section when it so-passes.

2. In a switch construction, a'housing, a stationary contact point fixed within said housing, a finger disposed within said housing and providedwith a portion fixed to said housing, said finger having a movable. section equippedwith a contact member movable out of and into engagement with said point for breakingand making an electrical circuit, a finger actuating. assembly including av pivoted rollerengaging said section and provided with a pivot with the latter co'acting with said portion to define a dead-point through which said section moves, a. spring mounted within said'housingand connected to said assembly for moving said section'topositions at the sides of said dead-point, said spring being effective to maintain said roller in one of said positionsto dispose said section on one-side of said dead-pointwith said-contact member in engagement with said contact .point,,operating means for moving said spring to shift said assembly in amanner to effect rotation of said rollerand thus movesaid section to another of said positions at the-other sideof said deadpoint and said contact member out-of engagement with said contact point, said spring functioning to increase the pressure on said contact point by said contact member until said section passes through saiddead-point and to impart a snap action to said section when it so passes.

3. In a switch construction, a housing provided therein witha stationary contact point, a bladeprovidediwith' a 5, portion fixed to said housing, said blade being provided with a movable section having an outer endandequipped" with a contact member movable out of and into engagement with said point for breaking and making an electrical circuit, a blade actuating assembly including a pivoted roller having a kerf receiving said outer end and provided with a pivot withthelatter coacting with said portion to define a dead 'point through which said outer end moves, a spring carried within said housing and connected to said assembly for movingsaid section to positions at the sides ofsaid 'dead point; said spring being effective to maintainsaidiroller inv one. ofsaid positions to dispose said outer end on one side of said dead point with said contact member in engagement with said contact point, operating means for moving said spring to shift said assembly in a manner to efiect rotation of said roller and thus move said outer end to another of said positions; at; thev other; sid'evof'. said dead-point and: said contact member out of engagement: with said; contact point, said. spring functioning to increase the pressure onsaid contact point: by saidcontact member untilsaid outer end-passes; througnsaid dead-point andttogimpal't a. snap action. tot said sectionwhen said 1 outer end so passes.

' 4', In:a:switch.construction, a housing,,a pairof spaced. stationary contact arms mounted'in .said housing .and provided'with confronting ,contact points,. a blade disposed between: said arms and provided 'with" a portion fixed to saidnhousing, said bladev having a movablesection pro vided-with'anzouter end andequippedwith contact means movable alternately into and out of engagement withisaid points, respectively,,a blade actuating'assernbly including a. spring;v and at rolleri pivotaily mountedon said spring; andhavinga peripheral facefformed with aikerf receiving.- said outer end,, said: roller having. a pivot coacting, with said portion to I definea dead-point through which said outer end moves, said spring carried within said housing:

and connected tolsaid assembly in a manner formoving said outer endto-positions at the sides of said deadpoint, saidspring beingetfective to maintain said roller in one of said positions to: disposesaid outer end on one:

side of said dead-point withsaid contact means in, engagement with oneofsaid contact points, a push button' for moving said spring to shift said assembly in a manner to'effect rotationof saidroller and thus-moveisaid outer end to another ofsaid positions at theotherside ofsaid dead-point and.-said:contact means intoengagementwith theother contact point; said spring functioning to increase the pressure on said contact points by said'contact meansiwhen engagedby the-latter until said outer end passesthrough said -dead-p oint audio impart asnap aetion to' said section when @said outerrend so passes.

References Cited :inth'etfile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 23,412 Hollis Sept; 25,1951

829,162. Klein Aug; 21', 1906 1,312,692 Hornung' Aug; 12, 1919 2,456,112 Dodd Dec; 14', 1948 2,510,934 Schildknecht June 6, 1950' 2,553,299 Carr May 15, 1951 

